Fight against hunger and food insecurity | Biden announces ambitious $8 billion plan

US President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday a collective commitment, including that of around 100 private companies and organizations, to inject $8 billion to end hunger and food insecurity. and reduce cases of junk food-related illnesses by 2030.

Andre Duchesne
The Press

However, this commitment takes on the air of deja vu. In December 1969, President Richard Nixon spearheaded a conference on food, nutrition, and health that was to “end hunger in America forever.”

So there was still work to do! Especially since with the war in Ukraine and inflation, the price of food has increased significantly, note observers.

Some aspects have improved over time, however, noted President Biden. In his opening remarks, he said, among other things, that one in four children lived below the poverty line 30 years ago, while the rate is 1 in 20 today. But other problems have emerged, including a rise in the number of cases of obesity among young people and adults. A situation that comes with the risk of developing pathologies such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease.

“Today, more than 35% of adults are obese in 19 states,” said President Biden, among others.

That said, the president was visibly pleased with the work being done behind the scenes to invite businesses and organizations from all walks of life to help not just feed the poorest Americans, but to…feed themselves well.

Among the commitments announced are more than $4 billion in philanthropic initiatives to improve access to nutritious foods, promote healthy choices and increase physical activity.

The Food Industry Association (IMF) has promised to encourage its members to donate 2 billion meals to food banks and other hunger relief organizations in 2023.

Non-financial commitments were also announced. For example, the giant Danone is committed to reducing the sugar content of children’s products.

Possibly, but…

Ambitious, is the Biden administration’s plan achievable?

Marion Nestle, professor emeritus of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University (NYU), believes it. According to her, money but also government commitment are the sinews of war.

“We will have problems with hunger until politicians decide to take the necessary steps to ensure that poor people have enough money and resources to meet their needs,” said the nutritionist, attached to the conference. The government did this during the pandemic as food programs were expanded. And, surprise! People were buying food. »

When talking to us, Mr.^me Nestle was satisfied with the proposals heard.

Sylvain Charlebois, full professor at the faculty of management and agriculture at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, remarks that “the project is interesting”, but that the players must now take action.

“Companies commit to doing a variety of things, but will they deliver? And what are the objectives exactly? For now, it’s a buffet of ideas that tries to solve all the problems in one fell swoop. This kind of approach rarely works. »

“With globalization and globalization, we have come to a very interconnected food system. But this system shows little resilience in the face of threats, climatic or of another order, indicates for his part Malek Batal, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Inequalities in Nutrition and Health (University of Montreal). It seems that the Americans have had an awareness at this level and that they have understood. Basically, the plan announced on Wednesday is a good thing. »

A recent study by the United States Department of Agriculture indicates that in 2021, 10% of households (around 13.5 million people) faced food insecurity.

With Agence France-Presse and the New York Times